Dropped $45 on a pair of trail gaiters and they saved my trip on the Appalachian Trail

I was hiking the AT section near Roan Mountain last month and hit a muddy stretch that went on for miles. My boots were soaked through after the first hour and I was getting blisters like crazy. Those cheap gaiters kept the mud and gravel out long enough for me to finish the day without stopping. Has anyone else had luck with budget gear holding up better than you expected?

2 comments

2 Comments

rubyj1114d ago

Oh man, I totally feel you on that muddy AT stretch! I had a similar thing happen on the Long Trail in Vermont last year, where this cheap pair of gaiters I got for like 20 bucks on clearance really saved my butt. The mud was thick and sticky, and without them my socks would've been caked in gravel and dirt in no time. What surprised me most was how well the zipper held up after getting caked with mud and still working fine. It's funny how sometimes the stuff you don't expect to last ends up being the most reliable on the trail.

hannahs7113d ago

Found a pair of those cheapo gaiters at a garage sale for five bucks and they outlasted two pairs of expensive boots.